Patterns of Marine Ecology

Question 1

Marine Ecology

Answer 1

Branch of marine science that studies the interactions between organisms and their biotic and abiotic environments, and the effects that these interactions have on patterns of distribution and abundance.

Question 2

Evolution

Answer 2

Change in the genetic composition of a population over many generations.
Phenotypic change, microevolution.
Speciation, macroevolution.

Question 3

Biotic Factors

Answer 3

Predation, parasitism, competition, territoriality, commensalism, mutualism, facilitation/succession, species richness, functional diversity, evolutionary history, human impacts.

Question 4

Levels of marine ecology

Answer 4

Individual, population, community, ecosystem, long evolutionary time scales, local/regional/global scales.

Question 5

Individual level ecology

Answer 5

Ecological niche, range of environments of which a species is able to live, is dependent on abiotic and biotic factors.

Question 6

Population level ecology

Answer 6

Population change dependent upon various species characteristics, life history, growth, survival and emigration/immigration.
Limiting resources affect population growth and dispersal potential.
Genetic characteristics of species affect their ability to adapt to new and changing environments.

Question 7

Community level ecology

Answer 7

Distribution and abundance of populations of different species in a community are determined by a combination of:
- Dispersal of larvae and adults to appropriate
- Inter-specific competition
- Grazing and predation
- Parasitism and disease
- Disturbance
- Facilitation and succession

Question 8

Ecosystem level ecology

Answer 8

Ecosystems are influenced and defined by a wide range of physical variables:
- Spatial and seasonal patterns.
- Geological forces.
- Historical factors.
-Cyclical or sporadic climate processes.
- Anthropogenic impacts

Question 9

Patterns in the marine environment

Answer 9

Biological and physical classification in the marine environment.
Patterns and the marine environment, variable 3D space.
Biogeography, large-scale distribution of species.
Biodiversity, patterns in the variety of life.

Question 10

Classification of the marine environment

Answer 10

By depth and position.
By distribution of organisms (infaunal, epifaunal, benthos, plankton, nekton)
By mechanism of energy capture.
Ecosystem function.

Question 11

Oceanography, vertical structure

Answer 11

Vertical stratification in oceans affects various ecological processes.
-Light.
-Temperature
-Salinity
-Oxygen
-Nutrients

Question 12

Oceanography, horizontal structure

Answer 12

Affected by major ocean surface currents.
Humboldt current, convergence of warm and cool waters where the Humboldt current meets the equatorial current.
Upwelling regions also affect biodiversity.

Question 13

Biogeography

Answer 13

Explore the geographic distribution of plants and animals.
Macro-ecology studies the relationship between organisms and their environments at large spatial scales

Question 14

Latitudinal gradient

Answer 14

Diversity is high in lower latitudes, tropics

Question 15

Longitudinal gradient

Answer 15

Hotspot in the Indo-West pacific

Question 16

Morphological biological diversity

Answer 16

Biodiversity not just about numbers.
It also encompasses morphological richness.
Usually measured as disparity.